Tub insert

ABSTRACT

A tub insert for a tub or receptacle accommodating test objects or items, particularly for hand luggage, the tub insert has at least one indentation in the surface of the tub base and/or of the tub insert, particularly for accommodating receptacles containing liquids. The tub insert is part of the tub and/or can be retrofitted. The at least one base material of the tub insert is closed-porous and can be a foam, such as polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE), but preferably a PE LD 29. An upper layer or protective layer on the base material protects the latter.

This nonprovisional application is a continuation of InternationalApplication No. PCT/EP2013/054773, which was filed on Mar. 8, 2013, andwhich claims priority to German Patent Application No. DE 10 2012 205456.1, which was filed in Germany on Apr. 3, 2012, and which are bothherein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an insert which is also retro-fittablefor a tub or container which receives objects for checking or items andwhich, by means of a conveying unit, may be guided through abaggage-checking installation for hand luggage. The term tub insertcomprises the tub base/container base per se or an insert for atub/container.

2. Description of the Background Art

In order to check hand luggage and similar, items such as suitcases,coats, jackets, shoes, etc. are placed into a container or a tub whichin turn are conveyed to the checking installation. For air travel, thereare limits according to EU guidelines for carrying onboard liquids inhand luggage. In the case of liquids which air passengers personallycarry onboard, the rule applies that said liquids must be filled intocontainers having a capacity of at most 100 milliliters (1 deciliter),and said containers in turn have to be placed into transparent,resealable plastic bags having a maximum capacity of 1 liter. These bagshave to be separately presented when the hand luggage is checked.

DE 10 2006 056 771 A1 discloses a security container for air-travelluggage. Said security container is permeable to ionizingelectromagnetic rays and impermeable to non-ionizing electromagneticrays. In conjunction with a tamper-proof closure-and-opening mechanism,tampering with the items located in the closed security container isimpossible. By way thereof it is the intention to achieve that also morethan the permissible amount of liquids etc. may also be taken onboard ashand luggage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide apossibility for abandoning the tough guidelines in the interest of thetravelers.

In an embodiment, the invention is based on the concept of stating apossibility by way of which also liquids in comparatively largecontainers or receptacles may be checked in relation to theirsecurity-relevant contents. In order to achieve the object it isproposed, in an embodiment, that the tub is provided with an insertwhich is also retro-fittable and which can receive the receptacles,bottles, etc., wherein unintentional shifting of receptacles of thistype is avoided. The term tub insert can mean, for example, the tubbase/container base per se or an insert for a tub/container.

The insert or the tub base, respectively, in an embodiment, isdistinguished by at least two layers, wherein the upper (protective)layer should be a textile which is composed of an extremely hard-wearingfabric or material, respectively, and the lower layer (basic material)is composed of a softer material, such as a foam material, for example,for a soft bearing of the receptacles on the tub base or in the tubbase, respectively. The hard-wearing material is desirable in order foralso the other pieces of luggage to be able to be conveyed with thesetubs or with the retro-fitted tubs, respectively. If the employment onlyfor receptacles having liquids is specifically intended, a protectivelayer of this type may potentially be dispensed with. It is a commonfeature of all employed materials that per se they display very lowabsorbency in relation to x-rays and per se thus only slightly absorbthe latter.

In order for the receptacles for liquids to be able to be exactlychecked, aside from a specific angular positioning within thebaggage-checking apparatus, it is desirable to have secured positioning.To this end at least one, but preferably two to three indentations orrecesses, respectively, is/are incorporated in the surface of the insertor of the tub base, respectively. On account thereof it is ensured thatthe receptacles lie in the tub in as horizontal a manner as possible.The indentations are preferably triangular, wherein at least a rightangle or else a somewhat larger angle should be enclosed between the twosides of the recess. The indentation(s) may be equal-sided and/orunequal-sided, such that it/they display(s) one comparatively long andone comparatively short side. In particular in the case of an oval crosssection of the containers (objects) to be checked, the latter, withtheir flat side, for example, would then bear in a defined position onthe longer side of the indentation. The sides per se may be semi-round,straight or similar, for example fluted.

Foam materials made of polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE), herepreferably PE LD 29, are possible as a basic material. The foammaterials should in any case have closed pores, in order for example tonot absorb water and to ensure washability (cleaning). PE and PP, whichmay have been processed as yarns to form a textile and applied onto thebasic material, are likewise possible as a material for the upperprotective layer.

A tub insert for a tub or container, in particular for hand luggage, forreceiving objects for checking or items, which is distinguished in thatit possesses at least one indentation in the surface of the tub baseand/or the tub insert, in particular for receiving containers containingliquids, is thus proposed. The tub insert may be a component part of thetub and/or be retro-fittable. The at least one basic material of the tubinsert can have closed pores. An upper layer or protective layer, on thebasic material protects the basic material.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, itshould be understood that the detailed description and specificexamples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, aregiven by way of illustration only, since various changes andmodifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawingswhich are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitiveof the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a tub, having a new tub base, for receivingluggage pieces,

FIG. 2 shows a sectional illustration of FIG. 1, in the section alongA-A,

FIG. 3 shows an insert which is implemented so as to be retro-fittable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In FIG. 1, a tub 1 is provided for receiving luggage pieces (not shownin more detail), in particular hand luggage, coats, etc. Incorporated ina tub base 2 (here) are two recesses (indentations) 3, 4 in a surface 5of the tub base 2, in particular for receiving containers 6 containingliquids. The depth of the indentations or recesses 3, 4, respectively,can be about 20 mm.

FIG. 2, in a section illustrational, shows an exemplary shape of therecesses 3, 4. The recesses 3, 4 can be introduced in a triangularmanner into the surface 5, wherein at least a right angle or a somewhatlarger angle a should be incorporated between the two sides 3.1, 3.2,4.1, 4.2 of the recess 3, 4. The sides 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2 per se may beimplemented so as to be semi-round or straight.

An insert 10 which may be retro-fitted in a tub is illustrated in FIG.3. The insert 10 can have the same component parts as the tub base 2.The advantage lies in that conventional tubs may be retro-fitted withthis insert. The tub insert 10 may be adapted according to thepredetermined interior dimensions of a tub and may measure 554 mm×354mm. The insert 10 possesses indentations 3′, 4′ which are comparablewith the indentations 3, 4. It is self-evident that the orientation ofthe indentations (longitudinal, transverse, etc. in relation to the tub)may be optional, wherein an orientation in the conveying direction ispreferable.

A feature is that they comprise at least a basic material 7 and aprotective layer 8.

The tubs (1), after checking in the baggage checking installation (notshown in more detail), optionally may be automatically conveyed back. Inorder to reliably identify that the tubs are empty and may be conveyedback, the surface structure and the surface color of the tub insert 2,10, or of the protective layer 8, respectively, are chosen so as to benon-reflecting, such that a camera system (not illustrated in moredetail) may also reliably assume this task instead of a person. There isa wide color chart available here to the person skilled in the art.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same maybe varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as adeparture from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all suchmodifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to beincluded within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A tub insert for a tub or container for handluggage or objects for checking or items, comprising at least oneindentation in a surface of a tub base or of a tub insert, theindentation being adapted to receive containers containing liquids. 2.The tub insert as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tub insert is acomponent part of the tub and/or is retro-fittable.
 3. The tub insert asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the tub insert comprises at least one basicmaterial which has closed pores.
 4. The tub insert as claimed in claim3, wherein the basic material is a foam material, polypropylene,polyethylene, or PE LD
 29. 5. The tub insert as claimed in claim 3,wherein an upper layer and/or a protective layer is incorporated on thebasic material.
 6. The tub insert as claimed in claim 5, wherein theupper layer is a hard-wearing material.
 7. The tub insert as claimed inclaim 6, wherein the upper layer is PE and PP which have been processedas yarns to form a textile.
 8. The tub insert as claimed in claim 3,wherein the employed materials for the basic material and the protectivelayer display very low absorbency with respect to x-rays.
 9. The tubinsert as claimed in claim 1, wherein a depth of the indentations isabout 20 mm.
 10. The tub insert as claimed in claim 1, wherein theindentations are triangular, and wherein at least a right angle or elsea somewhat larger angle is enclosed between the two sides of the recess.11. The tub insert as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indentation orindentations is/are equal-sided and/or unequal-sided, and wherein thesides are be semi-round or straight.
 12. The tub insert as claimed inclaim 1, wherein a surface structure and a surface color of the tubinsert is non-reflecting.